About this site
About The Lakes Guide
An independent visitor guide to the Lake District: restaurants, accommodation, walks, things to do, and everything else you need to plan a visit. No official body funds this. Just a site built by someone who has been coming here for decades.
Who writes it
Damian, Editor
Ex-army · Fell walker · 20+ years in the Lakes
The Lakes Guide is written in the voice of Damian Roche, founder of Churchtown Media. He has walked the fells for decades, fished the tarns, and brought the kids. The content is practical and honest. If a route is brutal in mist, we say so. If somewhere is overpriced, we mention it. No paid editorial placements, no sponsored content disguised as a review. Businesses can pay for featured placement in listings (that's how the site stays free to use), but that has no influence on what gets written.
The content is honest. If something isn't worth the effort, we say so. We name specifics: the car park postcode, the trail, the café, the price. No fluff, no brochure-speak.
Who publishes it
Damian Roche
Founder, Churchtown Media Ltd (Company No. 16960442)
Damian is a 20-year web and SEO professional. He built The Lakes Guide because he couldn't find a genuinely useful, editorially independent visitor guide to the Lake District, one that was honest about conditions, effort, and value.
The Lakes Guide is part of The Lakes Network , independent editorial guides covering the Lake District, wildlife, and fell walking.
LinkedIn profile →What we cover
Restaurants & Cafés
Independent reviews and a full directory of places to eat and drink across the Lake District.
Accommodation
Hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering from budget to boutique in Keswick, Ambleside, Windermere and beyond.
Walks & Hiking
Fell walks, valley routes, and practical guides for the Wainwrights and beyond.
Villages & Towns
Keswick, Ambleside, Windermere, Coniston, Grasmere: what to expect and where to stop.
Things To Do
Water sports, cycling, Grizedale Forest, attractions and everything else to fill a day.
Events
What's on calendar: festivals, races, and seasonal events across the Lake District.
How it's funded
The Lakes Guide is free to use. It's funded by featured placement (businesses can pay for a Pro listing or a boost). This is clearly disclosed on the site.
Featured placement does not influence editorial content. A restaurant that pays for a featured listing doesn't get a better review, it gets better visibility in the directory. If anything is sponsored, it will be explicitly labelled.
We may also earn affiliate commissions from some booking links. These are disclosed where they appear.
Get in touch
To list your business, enquire about featured placement, or report anything that looks wrong, use the contact form or email us directly.